A Karratha stalwart and integral community member for 30 years has been named Honorary Freeman for his years of service to the town.
John Lally sailed into Dampier in 1987 and quickly became an active member of the Dampier and Karratha community.
He is the third person to be provided with Freeman honours, following BR Sharpe and Mr WA Leslie.
During his time in Karratha, Mr Lally was a strong advocate for establishing a youth shed in Karratha, the City Centre Revitalisation Project, the Pilbara underground power project, and the development of the Karratha Leisureplex.
He spent time as the Chief Executive of the Karratha and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Commodore of the Hampton Harbour Boat and Sailing Club. He served as a City of Karratha Councillor for 10 years until 2017.
Mr Lally received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 for his service to the local government and the community of Karratha.
Although now based in Mandurah, Mr Lally continues to advocate for Karratha and the Pilbara through his role as Deputy Chair of the Regional Development Australia (Pilbara) Committee.
A passion for education led him to start up a camp school in Dampier which allowed children to learn kayaking, sailing, and fishing through an experiential learning process.
He also set up a naval cadet unit and a centre for whale research, which has grown to become a State-wide institute. His association with the camp school extended for approximately 20 years.
City of Karratha Deputy Mayor Kelly Nunn said he was privileged to bestow the title of Honorary Freeman to Mr Lally.
“Mr Lally was a stalwart of our community who dedicated years to improving services on offer for youth and businesses in our City,” Cr Nunn said.
“He was instrumental in bringing the Pilbara chambers of commerce together into a regional group and was the driving force behind establishing the New Pilbara Conference in 2016 to promote emerging investment opportunities in the region.”
Cr Long said Mr Lally’s influence can be felt around Karratha and Dampier.
“During his time in Karratha, Mr Lally was integral to the town's development and a long-time advocate for our region,” Cr Nunn said.